Finance 3715 Exam 2

Which of the following statements is FALSE? A) The actual return kept by an investor will depend on how the interest is taxed. B) The equivalent after-tax interest rate is r(1 - Θ). C) The highest interest rate for a given horizon is the rate paid on U.S. Treasury securities. D) It is important to use a discount rate that matches both the horizon and the risk of the cash flows.

c

Which of the following statements is true of bond prices? A) A fall in bond prices causes interest rates to fall. B) A fall in interest rates causes a fall in bond prices. C) A rise in interest rates causes bond prices to fall. D) Bond prices and interest rates are not connected

c

Which of the following best describes a bond rated by Standard & Poorʹs and Moody as B? A) judged to be high quality by all standards B) considered to be medium grade obligations C) neither highly protected nor poorly secured D) generally lacks the characteristics of a desirable investment

d

Which of the following best illustrates why a bond is a type of loan? A) The issuers of bonds make regular payments to bondholders. B) When a company issues a bond, the buyer of that bond becomes an owner of the issuing company. C) Funds raised are used to finance long-term projects. D) When an investor buys a bond from an issuer, the investor is giving money to the issuer, with the assurance that it will be repaid at a date in the future

d

Which of the following bonds will be most sensitive to a change in interest rates? A) a ten-year bond with a $2,000 face value whose yield to maturity is 5.8% and coupon rate is 5.8% APR paid semiannually B) a 15-year bond with a $5,000 face value whose yield to maturity is 7.4% and coupon rate is 6.2% APR paid annually C) a 20-year bond with a $3,000 face value whose yield to maturity is 6.0% and coupon rate is 5.4% APR paid semiannually D) a 30-year bond with a $1,000 face value whose yield to maturity is 5.5% and coupon rate is 6.4% APR paid annually

d

Which of the following computes the growth in purchasing power? A) growth of money + growth of prices B) (1 + real rate) / (1 + nominal rate) C) (1 + inflation rate) / (1 + nominal rate) D) growth of money / growth of prices

d

Which of the following is true about perpetuities? A) All else equal, the present value of a perpetuity is higher when the periodic cash flow is higher. B) All else equal, the present value of a perpetuity is higher when the interest rate is lower. C) If two perpetuities have the same present value and the same interest rate, they must have the same cash flows. D) All of the above are true statements.

d

Which of the following is true about the face value of a bond? A) It is the notional amount we use to compute coupon payments. B) It is the amount that is repaid at maturity. C) It is usually denominated in standard increments, such as $1,000. D) All of the above are true.

d

Which of the following reasons for considering long-term loans inherently more risky than short-term loans is most accurate? A) There is a greater chance that inflation may fall in a longer time-frame. B) The penalties for closing out a long term loan early make them unattractive to many investors. C) Long-term loans typically have ongoing costs that accumulate over the life of the loan. D) The loan values are very sensitive to changes in market interest rates.

d

Investment X and Investment Y are both growing perpetuities with initial cash flow of $100. Both investments have the same interest rate (r) and cash flows. The present value of Investment X is $5,000, while the present value of Investment Y is $4,000. Which of the following is true? A) Investment X has a higher growth rate than Investment Y. B) Investment X has a lower growth rate than Investment Y. C) The answer cannot be determined without knowing the interest rate for both investments. D) With the same initial cash flow and the same interest rate, Investment X and Investment Y should have the same present value.

A

Which of the following is true about perpetuities? A) Since a perpetuity generates cash flows every period infinitely, the cash flow generated equals the PV times the interest rate. B) Since a perpetuity generates cash flows every period infinitely, initial cash outflow must be discounted to calculate the present value. C) Since a perpetuity generates cash flows every period infinitely, there is no way to solve for the cash flow using the present value and the interest rate. D) Since a perpetuity generates cash flows every period infinitely, its FV is the same as its PV.

A

Which of the following statements regarding perpetuities is FALSE? A) To find the value of a perpetuity by discounting one cash flow at a time would take forever. B) A perpetuity is a stream of equal cash flows that occurs at regular intervals and lasts forever. C) PV of a perpetuity = R / C D) One example of a perpetuity is the British government bond called a consol.

C

The credit spread of a bond shrinks if it is perceived that the probability of the issuer defaulting increases True/False

False

The real interest rate is the rate of growth of oneʹs purchasing power due to money invested. True/False

False

Treasury bonds have original maturities from one to ten years, while Treasury notes have original maturities of more than ten years. True/False

False

Trial and error is the only way to compute the internal rate of return (IRR) when interest is calculated over five or more periods. True/False

False

When there are large numbers of people looking to save their money and there is little demand for loans, one would expect interest rates to be high. True/False

False

Before it matures, the price of any bond is always less than its face value True/False

False

Cash flows from an annuity occur every year in the future. True/false

False

Joe borrows $100,000 and agrees to repay the principal, plus 7% APR interest compounded monthly, at the end of three years. Joe has taken out an amortizing loan.

False

Prior to its maturity date, the price of a zero-coupon bond is its face value. True/False

False

The annual percentage rate indicates the amount of interest, including the effect of any compounding. True/False

False

The coupon value of a bond is the face value of the bond. True/False

False

Which of the following is/are TRUE? I. The EAR can never exceed the APR. II. The APR can never exceed the EAR. III. The APR and EAR can never be equal. A) Only I is true. B) Only II is true. C) Only II & III are true. D) Only I & III are true.

b

A bond is said to mature on the date when the issuer repays its notional value. True/False

True

A bond will trade at a discount if its coupon rate is less than its yeild to maturity True/False

True

A growing perpetuity, where the rate of growth is greater than the discount rate, will have an infinitely large present value (PV).

True

Bonds with a high risk of defult generally offer high yields True/False

True

Market forces determine interest rates based ultimately on the willingness of individuals, banks, and firms to borrow, save, and lend True/False

True

Quality adjustments to changes in the CPI most often result in reductions to the inflation rate calculated from it True/Fale

True

The internal rate of return (IRR) is the interest rate that sets the net present value (NPV) of the cash flows equal to zero. True/False

True

The only cash payment an investor in a zero-coupon bond receives is the face value of the bond on its maturity date. True/False

True

The opportunity cost of capital is the best available expected return offered in the market on an investment of comparable risk and term to the cash flow being discounted. True/False

True

The present value (PV) of a stream of cash flows is just the sum of the present values of each individual cash flow.

True

When you borrow money, the interest rate on the borrowed money is the price you pay to be able to convert your future loan payments into money today. True/False

True

A bond certificate includes ________. A) the terms of the bond B) the individual to whom payments will be made C) the yield to maturity of the bond D) the price of the bond

a

Assume your current mortgage payment is $900 per month. If you begin to pay $1,000 per month (with the extra $100 per month going to principal), which of the following will be TRUE? A) The mortgage balance will decrease faster with $1,000 monthly payment compared to $900 monthly payments. B) The total amount paid (principal and interest) will increase with $1,000 monthly payment compared to $900 monthly payments. C) The total interest expense will increase with $1,000 monthly payment compared to $900 monthly payments. D) The total principal paid will decrease with $1,000 monthly payment compared to $900 monthly payments.

a

In an effort to maintain price stability, it is expected that the European Central Bank will raise interest rates in the future. Which of the following is the most likely effect of such an action on short-term and long-term interest rates in Europe? A) Long-term interest rates will tend to be higher than short-term interest rates. B) Long-term interest rates will be about the same as short-term interest rates. C) Both long- and short-term interest rates would be expected to fall sharply. D) No relative change in short and long term interest rates could be predicted.

a

What is the effective annual rate (EAR)? A) It is the interest rate that would earn the same interest with annual compounding. B) It is the ratio of the number of the annual percentage rate to the number of compounding periods per year. C) It is the interest rate for an n-year time interval, where n may be more than one year or less than or equal to one year (a fraction). D) It refers to the cash flows from an investment over a one-year period divided by the number of times that interest is compounded during the year.

a

When computing a present value, which of the following is TRUE? A) You should adjust the discount rate to match the interval between cash flows. B) You should adjust the future value to match the present value. C) You should adjust the time period to match the present value. D) You should adjust the cash flows to match the time period of the discount rate.

a

Which of the following best describes the annual percentage rate? A) the quoted interest rate which, considered with the compounding period, gives the effective interest rate B) the effective annual rate, after compounding is taken into account C) the discount rate, when compounded more than once a year or less than once a year D) the discount rate, when effective annual rate is divided by the number of times it is compounded in a year

a

Which of the following bonds is trading at a premium? A) a five-year bond with a $2,000 face value whose yield to maturity is 7.0% and coupon rate is 7.2% APR paid semiannually B) a ten-year bond with a $4,000 face value whose yield to maturity is 6.0% and coupon rate is 5.9% APR paid semiannually C) a 15-year bond with a $10,000 face value whose yield to maturity is 8.0% and coupon rate is 7.8% APR paid semiannually D) a two-year bond with a $50,000 face value whose yield to maturity is 5.2% and coupon rate is 5.2% APR paid monthly

a

Which of the following bonds will be least sensitive to a change in interest rates? A) a ten-year bond with a $2,000 face value whose yield to maturity is 5.8% and coupon rate is 5.8% APR paid semiannually B) a 15-year bond with a $5,000 face value whose yield to maturity is 7.4% and coupon rate is 6.2% APR paid annually C) a 20-year bond with a $3,000 face value whose yield to maturity is 6.0% and coupon rate is 5.4% APR paid semiannually D) a 30-year bond with a $1,000 face value whose yield to maturity is 5.5% and coupon rate is 6.4% APR paid annually

a

Which of the following formulas is INCORRECT? A) PV of a growing annuity = C × 1/r - g(1 - (1 + r/1 + g)N) B) PV of an annuity = C × 1/r(1 - 1/(1 + r)N) C) PV of a growing perpetuity = C/r - g D) PV of a perpetuity = C/r

a

Which of the following situations would result in lowering of interest rates by the banking authority of a country? A) The economy is slowing down. B) Inflation is rising rapidly. C) The level of investment is quite high. D) The rate of savings is quite low.

a

Which of the following statements regarding growing perpetuities is FALSE? A) We assume that r < g for a growing perpetuity. B) PV of a growing perpetuity = C/r - g C) To find the value of a growing perpetuity one cash flow at a time would take forever. D) A growing perpetuity is a cash flow stream that occurs at regular intervals and grows at a constant rate forever.

a

Why is the yield to maturity of a zero-coupon, risk-free bond that matures at the end of a given period the risk-free interest rate for that period? A) Since such a bond provides a risk-free return over that period, the Law of One Price guarantees that the risk-free interest rate equals the yield to maturity. B) Since a bondʹs price will converge on its face value as the bond approaches the maturity date, the Law of One Price dictates that the risk-free interest rate will reflect this convergence. C) Since interest rates will rise and fall in response to the movement in bond prices. D) Since there is, by definition, no risk in investing in such bonds, the return from such bonds is the best that can be expected from any investment over the period.

a

Why, in general, do investment opportunities offer a rate greater than that offered by U.S. Treasury securities for the same horizon? A) Most investment opportunities bear far greater risk than those offered by U.S. Treasury securities. B) The return from U.S. Treasury securities generally attracts less tax than the returns from other investments. C) The opportunity cost of capital for a given horizon is generally based on U.S. Treasury securities with that same horizon. D) U.S. Treasury securities are generally considered to be the best alternative to most investments.

a

You are given two choices of investments, Investment A and Investment B. Both investments have the same future cash flows. Investment A has a discount rate of 4%, and Investment B has a discount rate of 5%. Which of the following is true? A) The present value of cash flows in Investment A is higher than the present value of cash flows in Investment B. B) The present value of cash flows in Investment A is lower than the present value of cash flows in Investment B. C) The present value of cash flows in Investment A is equal to the present value of cash flows in Investment B. D) No comparison can be madeNwe need to know the cash flows to calculate the present value.

a

perpetuity (a) A perpetuity is a stream of equal cash flows that occur at regular intervals and lasts forever. (b) An annuity is a stream of N equal cash flows paid at regular intervals. (c) A growing perpetuity is a cash flow stream that occurs at regular intervals and grows at a constant rate forever. (d) A growing annuity is a stream of N growing cash flows, paid at regular intervals.

a

Which of the following statements regarding annuities is FALSE? A) PV of an annuity = C × 1/r (1 - 1/(1 + r)N) B) The difference between an annuity and a perpetuity is that a perpetuity ends after some fixed number of payments. C) An annuity is a stream of N equal cash flows paid at regular intervals. D) Most car loans, mortgages, and some bonds are annuities.

b

Which of the following investments has a higher present value, assuming the same (strictly positive) interest rate applies to both investments? A) Investment X has a higher present value. B) Investment Y has a higher present value. C) Investment X and Investment Y have the same present value, since the total of the cash flows is the same for both. D) No comparison can be madeNwe need to know the interest rate to calculate the present value.

b

A corporate bond which receives a BBB rating from Standard & Poorʹs is considered ________. A) a junk bond B) an investment grade bond C) a defaulted bond D) a high-yield bond

b

In which of the following situations would it not be appropriate to use the following formula: PV = C0 + C1/(1 + r) + C2/(1 + r)2 + . . . . + Cn/(1 + r)n when determining the present value (PV) of a cash flow stream? A) when yield curves are flat B) when short-term and long-term interest rates vary widely C) when the inflation rate is high D) when the discount rate is high

b

The Sisyphean Company has a bond outstanding with a face value of $1000 that reaches maturity in 5 years. The bond certificate indicates that the stated coupon rate for this bond is 8.1% and that the coupon payments are to be made semiannually. Assuming the appropriate YTM on the Sisyphean bond is 10.6%, then this bond will trade at ________. A) a premium B) a discount C) par D) none of the above

b

The yield curve is typically ________. A) downward sloping B) upward sloping C) flat D) inverted

b

What is the dirty price of a bond? A) the bondʹs price based only on the bondʹs yield B) the bondʹs actual cash price C) the bondʹs price based only on coupon payments D) the bondʹs price less an adjustment for changes in interest rates

b

What, typically, is used to calculate the opportunity cost of capital on a risk-free investment? A) the best expected return offered in any investment available in the market B) the interest rate on U.S. Treasury securities with the same term C) the interest rate of any investments alternatives that are available D) the best rate of return offered by U.S. Treasury securities

b

Which of the following statements regarding bonds and their terms is FALSE? A) Bonds are securities sold by governments and corporations to raise money from investors today in exchange for a promised future payment. B) By convention, the coupon rate is expressed as an effective annual rate. C) Bonds typically make two types of payments to their holders. D) The time remaining until the repayment date is known as the term of the bond.

b

Which of the following statements regarding bonds and their terms is FALSE? A) One advantage of quoting the yield to maturity rather than the price is that the yield is independent of the face value of the bond. B) Unlike the case of bonds that pay coupons, for zero-coupon bonds, there is no formula to solve for the yield to maturity. C) Because we can convert any bond price into a yield, and vice versa, bond prices and yields are often used interchangeably. D) The internal rate of return (IRR) of a bond is given a special name, the yield to maturity (YTM).

b

Which of the following statements regarding bonds and their terms is FALSE? A) The amount of each coupon payment is determined by the coupon rate of the bond. B) Prior to its maturity date, the price of a zero-coupon bond is always greater than its face value. C) The zero-coupon bond has no periodic interest payments. D) Treasury bills are U.S. government bonds with a maturity of up to one year

b

Which of the following statements regarding bonds and their terms is FALSE? A) The internal rate of return (IRR) of an investment in a zero-coupon bond is the rate of return that investors will earn on their money if they buy a default-free bond at its current price and hold it to maturity. B) The yield to maturity of a bond is the discount rate that sets the future value (FV) of the promised bond payments equal to the current market price of the bond. C) Financial professionals also use the term spot interest rates to refer to the default-free zero-coupon yields. D) When we calculate a bondʹs yield to maturity by solving the formula

b

annuity (a) A perpetuity is a stream of equal cash flows that occur at regular intervals and lasts forever. (b) An annuity is a stream of N equal cash flows paid at regular intervals. (c) A growing perpetuity is a cash flow stream that occurs at regular intervals and grows at a constant rate forever. (d) A growing annuity is a stream of N growing cash flows, paid at regular intervals.

b

A bank offers an account with an APR of 5.8% and an EAR of 5.88%. How does the bank compound interest for this account? A) weekly compounding B) monthly compounding C) semiannual compounding D) annual compounding

c

A university issues a bond with a face value of $5000 and a coupon rate of 4.41% that matures on July 15, 2018. The holder of such a bond receives coupon payments of $110.25 . How frequently are coupon payments made in this case? A) monthly B) quarterly C) semiannually D) annually

c

Given that the inflation rate in 2006 was about 3.24%, while a short-term municipal bond offered a rate of 2.9%, which of the following statements is correct? A) The purchasing power of investors in these bonds grew over the course of the year. B) The real interest rate for investors in these bonds was greater than the rate of inflation. C) Investors in these bonds were able to buy less at the end of the year than they could have purchased at the start of the year. D) The nominal interest rate offered by these bonds gave the true increase in purchasing power that resulted from investing in these bonds.

c

How are investors in zero-coupon bonds compensated for making such an investment? A) Such bonds are purchased at their face value and sold at a premium on a later date. B) Such bonds make regular interest payments. C) Such bonds are purchased at a discount, below their face value. D) Such bonds have a lower face value as compared to other bonds of similar term

c

Inflation is calculated as the rate of change in the _______. A) unemployment rate B) Gross Domestic Product C) Consumer Price Index D) risk-free rate

c

The Sisyphean Company has a bond outstanding with a face value of $1000 that reaches maturity in 5 years. The bond certificate indicates that the stated coupon rate for this bond is 10.0% and that the coupon payments are to be made semiannually. Assuming the appropriate YTM on the Sisyphean bond is 7.5%, then this bond will trade at ________. A) par B) a discount C) a premium D) none of the above

c

What is the shape of the yield curve and what expectations are investors likely to have about future interest rates? A) inverted; higher B) normal; higher C) inverted; lower D) normal; lower

c

Which of the following bonds is trading at par? A) a bond with a $2,000 face value trading at $1,987 B) a bond with a $1,000 face value trading at $999 C) a bond with a $1,000 face value trading at $1,000 D) a bond with a $2,000 face value trading at $2,012

c

Which of the following bonds will be most sensitive to a change in interest rates if all bonds have the same initial yield to maturity? A) a ten-year bond with a $1,000 face value whose coupon rate is 5.8% APR paid semiannually B) a ten-year bond with a $1,000 face value whose coupon rate is 7.4% APR paid semiannually C) a 20-year bond with a $1,000 face value whose coupon rate is 5.8% APR paid semiannually D) a 20-year bond with a $1,000 face value whose coupon rate is 7.4% APR paid semiannually

c

Which of the following statements regarding bonds and their terms is FALSE? A) The bond certificate typically specifies that the coupons will be paid periodically until the maturity date of the bond. B) The bond certificate indicates the amounts and dates of all payments to be made. C) The only cash payments the investor will receive from a zero-coupon bond are the interest payments that are paid up until the maturity date. D) The face value of a bond is repaid at maturity.

c

Why are the interest rates of U.S. Treasury securities less than the interest rates of equivalent corporate bonds? A) The U.S. government has a high credit spread. B) There is significant risk that the U.S. government will default. C) U.S. Treasury securities are widely regarded to be risk-free. D) U.S. Treasury securities yield inflation adjusted interest rates.

c

growing perpetuity (a) A perpetuity is a stream of equal cash flows that occur at regular intervals and lasts forever. (b) An annuity is a stream of N equal cash flows paid at regular intervals. (c) A growing perpetuity is a cash flow stream that occurs at regular intervals and grows at a constant rate forever. (d) A growing annuity is a stream of N growing cash flows, paid at regular intervals.

c

A bond is currently trading below par. Which of the following must be true about that bond? A) The bondʹs yield to maturity is less than its coupon rate. B) The bond is a zero-coupon bond. C) The bondʹs yield to maturity is greater than its coupon rate. D) B or C above

d

Emma runs a small factory that needs a vacuum oven for brazing small fittings. She can purchase the model she needs for $180,000 up front, or she can lease it for five years for $4,200 per month. She can borrow at 7% APR, compounded monthly. Assuming that the oven will be used for five years, should she purchase the oven or should she lease it? A) Lease, since the present value (PV) of the lease is $12,224 less than the cost of the oven. B) Lease, since the present value (PV) of the lease is $8,642 less than the cost of the oven. C) Lease, since the present value (PV) of the lease is $2,212 less than the cost of the oven. D) Buy, since the present value (PV) of the lease is $32,108 more than the cost of the oven.

d

Historically, why were high inflation rates associated with high nominal interest rates? A) Individuals will spend more when they expect their investments to increase in value. B) Growth in investment and savings is encouraged when consumers are judged to be overspending. C) High inflation leads to a decrease in purchasing power and thus increases the attractiveness of investment over consumption in the short term. D) The real interest rate needs to be high enough so that individuals can expect their savings to have greater purchasing power in the future than in the present.

d

When the costs of an investment come before that investmentʹs benefits, what will be the effect of a rise in interest rates on the attractiveness of that investment to potential investors? A) It will make it more attractive, since it will increase the investmentʹs net present value (NPV). B) It will make it more attractive, since it will decrease the investmentʹs net present value (NPV). C) It will make it less attractive, since it will increase the investmentʹs net present value (NPV). D) It will make it less attractive, since it will decrease the investmentʹs net present value (NPV).

d

Which of the following statements is FALSE about interest rates? A) As interest rates may be quoted for different time intervals, it is often necessary to adjust the interest rate to a time period that matches that of cash flows. B) The effective annual rate indicates the amount of interest that will be earned at the end of one year. C) The annual percentage rate indicates the amount of simple interest earned in one year. D) The annual percentage rate indicates the amount of interest including the effect of compounding.

d

Which of the following statements is FALSE? A) The interest rates that banks offer on investments or charge on loans depend on the horizon of the investment or loan. B) The Federal Reserve determines very short-term interest rates through its influence on the federal funds rate. C) The interest rates that are quoted by banks and other financial institutions are nominal interest rates. D) Fundamentally, interest rates are determined by the Federal Reserve.

d

Which of the following statements is FALSE? A) The opportunity cost of capital is the best available expected return offered in the market on an investment of comparable risk and term of the cash flows being discounted. B) Interest rates we observe in the market will vary based on quoting conventions, the term of investment, and risk. C) The opportunity cost of capital is the return the investor forgoes when the investor takes on a new investment. D) For a risk-free project, the opportunity cost of capital will typically be greater than the interest rate of U.S. Treasury securities with a similar term.

d

Which of the following statements regarding bonds and their terms is FALSE? A) Zero-coupon bonds are also called pure discount bonds. B) The internal rate of return (IRR) of an investment opportunity is the discount rate at which the net present value (NPV) of the investment opportunity is equal to zero. C) The yield to maturity for a zero-coupon bond is the return you will earn as an investor from holding the bond to maturity and receiving the promised face value payment. D) When prices are quoted in the bond market, they are conventionally quoted in increments of $1,000.

d

Which of the following would be LEAST likely to lower the interest rate that a bank offers a borrower? A) The number of borrowers seeking funds is low. B) The expected inflation rate is expected to be low. C) The borrower is judged to have a low degree of risk. D) The loan will be for a long period of time.

d

growing annuity (a) A perpetuity is a stream of equal cash flows that occur at regular intervals and lasts forever. (b) An annuity is a stream of N equal cash flows paid at regular intervals. (c) A growing perpetuity is a cash flow stream that occurs at regular intervals and grows at a constant rate forever. (d) A growing annuity is a stream of N growing cash flows, paid at regular intervals.

d

Bond traders generally quote bond yields rather than bond prices, since yield to maturity depends on the face value of the bond. True/False

false

For a free-risk investment, the opportunity cost of capital will generally be more than the interest rate offered by U.S. Treasury securities with a similar term.

false

The term ȈopportunityȈ in opportunity cost of capital comes from the fact that any worthwhile opportunity for investment will have a cost: the risk to the capital invested. True / False

false